Tape-applying mechanism for box-covering machines



June 16, 1925.

G. E. GQODING urn APPLYING uscinmsu FOR BOX covsame MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Opt. 1, was

June 16, 1925. 542,444 G. E. GOODING TAPE APPLYING MECHANISM FOR BOX COVERING MACHINES Fi1 ed Oct. 1,.1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1925.

G. E. GOODING TAPE) APPLYING MECHANISM FOR BOX COVERING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 1, 19 23 Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED. STATES] PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE EDWARD GOODING, O'F BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN '1.

TAPE-APPLYING MECHANISM FOR BUX-COVERING MACHINES.

Application filed Octoberl, 1923. Serial NO. 665,791.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonoa EDWARD GooniNo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have inventeda certain new and useful lvlechanisn'r for Box-Covering Machines, of which the followingis aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines of the general type disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,289,729, issued December 31, 1918, to Harrison S. Gripe. The machine shown in said patent. is designed for the purpose of applying paper or other covering material to the tops and bottoms of boxes whose sides and ends have previously been provided with a covering of similar material. Said machine comprises a work support on which the box is placed with the portion to be covered uppermost, said WQl'i support being mounted on a reciprocating carriage which is moved inwardly and outwardly past the devices for applying the covering material, the arrangement being such that when the carriage is in its'innermost position the end of a web of covering material suitably coated with adhesivepis applied to the the carriage movesoutwardly, said covering material is drawn from the supply and pressed down upon the box, the portion applied to the latter being subsequently severed from the web. Machines of this type are also provided withjmechanism for plac ing. a piece of tape across the top or bottom" of the box beforethe covering'material is placed thereon. .This tape is held in posi-.

tion by the covering material and is used to secure the lids of the boxes to their body portions. j

The present invention relates to certain improven'ientsin the mechanism for applying the tape to the boxes and hasfor its object to provide a. new mounting of the mechanism for cutting the, tape which per.- mits the cuttingmechanism to be adjusted transversely of the machine so that the length of the tape cut may be varied to meet the requirements of boxes of different sizes.

Another object of my invention is to prtr vide certain improvements in the tape cutter. its mounting and operating mechanism.

Improvement in Tape-Applying outer edge of the box, and as A further object is to provide a new adjustable cam engaging lever for operating the cutter mechanism and knocking-off bar at a predetermined time in the movement of the shuttle transversely of the machine.

Another object is to provide improved and adjustable lingers for gripping the tape and holding it in a proper position on the box after it has been cut from the web and freed from the shuttlemechanism and untilthe box is removed from the machine with the covering applied thereto.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide adjusting means for i the shuttle raising and lowering cams which permits the said cams to be adjusted transversely of the machine. to meet the requirements of various size boxes to which the tape is applied. I also provide improved connections from the source of power to the chain which conveys the shuttle back and forth across the machine.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of one form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise practised without departure from the spirit and scope thereof,

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a simplified'side' elevation of the machine with certain of the parts, not essential to the invention herein claimed, omitted.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of certain parts of the tape mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the part of the machine shown in Fig, 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the adjustable cam lever for operating the tape cutter and knocking-off bar. r

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the adjustable mounting for the shuttle raising and lowering cams.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 4, showing the construction of the shuttle slide.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3, showing the slidable mounting of the tape cutter.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the work supporting carrier showing the adjust-able tape gripping fingers.

Except as hereinafter described, the machine herein shown, as to its general organization and the parts not illustrated, may, if desired, be substantially as more fully disclosed in the patent to Gipe above referred to. Generally speaking said machine comprises a main frame provided with longitudinal ways in which is slidably mounted a carriage 7 carrying a work sup port 8 for supporting the boxes to be covered. Said carriage is reciprocated in its ways by mechanism which may be substan tially similar to that shown in the Gripe patent above referred to, but which as herein shown is of the type. disclosed in another application filed Qctober l, 1923 Serial No. 665,789. For the purpose of the present case, this mechanism may be described as follows: The carriage 7 is formed at its underside with a lug connected by links 31 with levers 32 suitably fulcrumed, as at 33, to the frame 25. Disposed between the levers 32 is a lever 3 L fulcrumed at 35 to a bracket 36 secured to said frame. The levers 32 and 34 are forn'ied with longitudinal slots to receive slides 37 pivotally connected, as at 38, with each other, and longitudinally adjustable in said slots, by mechanism generally indicated at 39, to adjust the operative connection of the levers and 34, and thereby vary the length of the stroke of the carriage 7. The lever 34. is operated by a link 40 having a cam roller 4:1 which cooperates with a cam 42 on acam shaft 43 journalled in the frame 25, said link having a. forked end embracing said shaft, whereby said link is supported. The cam shaft 4-3 is connected by gearing 45 to the main drive shaft 4-6, iournalled in the. frame and adapted to receive power from any suitable source as through a belt pulley 47.

Supported above the path of movement of the carriage 7 and the work support 8, in an auxiliary frame mounted on the main frame 25, are devices for applying the covering material, in the form of a continuous web 51 to the box said devices including an applying roller 2 for securing the end of the web to the box when the carriage is in its innermost position, and a. pressing roller 53 adapted, as the carriage moves outwardly, drawing the web with it, to descend upon the box and press said web down upon the same. When the carriage has moved outwardly far enough to draw off a sui'iicient quantity of covering material to cover the box, said material is severed from the web by a movable cutter 54 which is operated by suitable connections actuated by a cam, not shown, on the cam shaft 43. The movable cutter 54 cooperates with a fixed cutter 55 plying roller 2 is carried by a pair of arms 56 loosely mounted on a transverse rod 57 supported in the auxiliary frame 50. The arms 56 are connected by links 58 with arms 59 on a rock shaft 60 j-ournalled in the frame 25. One of said arms 59 forms part of a bell crank, the other arm 61 of which is provided with a cam roller 62 cooperating with a cam 63 on the cam shaft 43.

The pressing roller 53 is carried by a pair of arms 68 also loosely mounted on the rod 57 and connected by links 69 with arms 70 on' a. rock shaft 71 journalled in the frame 25 and provided with anarm 72 to which is connected a link 73 supported by another link (not shown) from a rock shaft 751 journalled in said frame. The link 73 carries a cam roller cooperating with a cam on the shaft 43. As in Letters Patent No. 1,289,729, the paper or other covering material 51 is supplied in the form of a continuous web from a. suitable roll (not shown), is passed through devices generally indicated at 74 for applying adhesive thereto, and is guided over supporting rollers 75 to its point of application to: the box.

Referring to F ig. 1 the main driving shaft 46 has a bevel gear 76 which meshes with another bevel gear 77 on a shaft 78. The opposite end of the shaft 78 has a bevel gear 79 thereon which meshes with a bevel gear 80 on an idler shaft 82 suitably journalled in the auxiliary frame 50. The shaft 82 carries a second bevel gear 21 which meshes with a bevel gear 81 on a shaft 83, also journalled in a portion of the auxiliary frame 50. The shaft 83 carries a sprocket wheel 84: (see also Figs. 2 and 4) which drives a shuttle conveying chain 85, the chain 85 being also supported on another sprocket wheel 86 on the opposite side of the machine, said chain 85 extending transversely of the machine. Two rods 87 spaced apart and suitably secured at their ends to parts of the auxiliary frame 50 adjacent the sprocket wheels 84 and 86, form guides on which is slidably mounted a shuttle 88. The shuttle 88 has openings 89 and 90 through which the opposite runs of the chain 85 pass (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The shuttle 88 carries a vertically slidable plate 91 the rear face of which is provided with two recesses into which a nietallic ball is designed to be pressed by a suitable spring when the plate 91 is raised scribed,.the plate 91 being *held thereby in either a raised or lowered position. The construction of these parts is the same as that shown in the patent to Gripe. The plate 91 is provided with a lug 95 which is arranged at an angle and designed to engage a raising cam 96 when the shuttle is moved in one direction and toengage a lowering cam 97 when the shuttle is mot'ed in-the opposite direction. backwardly and projecting link 99 on the chain by the alternate engagement of this link with opposite ends of the plate 91. For example, as shown in Fig. 4:, the plate 91 is in a lowered position having been lowered by the cam 97 into the path of movement of the projecting link 99, so that when. the chain moves in thedirection of the arrow, Fig. 4,the link 99 will engage the lower end of the plate 91 and convey the shuttle across the machine until the lug engages the raising cam 96, whenthe plate 91 "will be raised until its lower endhas been freed from the link 99 and the upper end of the plate will be projected into the path of the link 99 when said link turns around the sprocket wheel 86 and travels in the ,reverse direction across the machine, it being noted that when the raising cam 96 lifts the plate 91 the lower end of" the latter will be freed of the link 99, and the link 99'will be free to pass under it andaround said sprocket 86. \Vhen the link99 reaches the upper run of the chain 85, it will engage the upper-end of the plate 91 and thereby carry the shuttle in the reverse direction across the inachineiuntil the lug 95 again engages the lowering cam 97 and the operation-is again repeated.

A tube '1 is secured tothe depending endof an adjustable blocklOl which is mounted on the guide rods 87 011 the auxiliary frame, and the tape T extends'through said tube as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The tube l at its free end is beveled on its lower side to allow the end portion c of the tape to hang below a plane including the lowest portion of the tube '1. The tube 1 extends through an opening 104 in a depending portion 1050f theshuttle 88 when the shuttle is in a position ready tomoveforward to carry the tape across the machine "and'abovc the top of the box to which the covering material isto be applied. I 1 a,

A tape gripping finger '6 is pivotally mounted withiirthe opening 101m the shuttle and" has an arm 9which is actuated by a spring 3 to move the tape gripping finger 6 toward the surface I 110 which forms the bottom of the opening 104, see Fig l. It

v raised against the action .of the spring 0 and lowered by mcansto be dc- The shuttle 88 is moved forwardly by an outwardly blocks to receive the rods.

will be understood that when the depending portion 105 of the shuttle ismoved over the tube 1, the tape gripping finger 6 will be and will frictionallybear on the top surface of the tube 1. lVhen the shuttle 88 is moved forward a sufficient distance for the lower end of the tape. gripping finger 6to clear the free end of the tube 1, the sprin 3' will turn the finger 6 on its pivot ant will clamp the end e of the tape between it and the surface of the shuttle. The gripping pressure is suflicient to pull the tape across the box as the shuttle advances. To insure positivetension on the tape, 1 provide a plate 111 for engagement with the tape, the degree of tension being regulated by a. spring 112 positioned on a threaded stud 113, between the head of the stud and the plate, the stud passing through a hole in the plate and being screwed into the sideof the block 101 a sufficient distance to give the proper tension to the tape. g

The block 101 carries the lowering cam 97 and a similar block 114 on the opposite side of the machine carries the raising cam 96, the block 11-1 being of like construction to that of tlie block 101 except that it is not provided with the depending portion, above described. Each of the blocks 101 and 114, as

"shown in Fig. 7 hasa removable portion 115 secured thereto by a screw 116. The screw 116 also secures the cam plate 96 and 97 to the blocks 101 and 11 1 respectively, the cam being held rigidly in position thereby. The guide rods 87 pass between the members 115 and the main portion of the blocks, there being suitable grooves in the By this con struction the blocks 101 and 114 and consequently the cams 96 and 97 can be adjusted toward or from each other on the guide rods 87, so as to limit or increase. the lengthof the tape to be applied to various sizes of boxes, it being understood that the position of the blocks on the rods 87 determine the point at which the shuttle will grip the tape and the point to which'it will carry the tape transversely of the machine.

A. bracket 16 (see Fig. 10) having a slot- 11? therein is adjustably secured by a bolt 11 to the upright 118 of the work support which reciprocates with the carriage 7. Se cured to the bracket 16 at its inner end by as-cap is a transversely extending square rod theends of said rod extending beyond the edges of the plate 120 on which the work is supported." Two upwardly extending fingers 5, one on each side of the work supporting plate 120, are supported in end pieces 10v mounted on the rod- 1. The end 123 which are screwed 7 fit screw 125. It will thus be seen that the fingers can be raised or lowered in the end pieces that the end pieces can be moved on the rod 4 toward or from the work supporting plate 120, and that the bracket 16.

can be adjusted "forwardly. or backwardly of the machine, thus enabling the upper ends of the fingers 5 to be adjusted into any desired position to meet the requirements of boxes of difierent sizes. The fingers 5 are hook shaped at their upper ends, and springs 126 secured thereto bear yieldingly against said fingers on the lower side of their hook shaped ends. The function of the hook portions of the fingers 5 and the springs 126 is to engage the tape while it is stretched across and above the box and to hold it after it is cut from the web and until the covering material is applied to the box.

The arm 9 of the tape gripping finger 6 hasa pin 12 2 and 4) which is designed to be raised by a knocking-off bar 13 actuated by mechanism hereafter described. Simultaneously to this engagement of the pin 12 with the bar 13, tape cutting shears 14 will be actuatedto cut the tape, it being noted that the paper covering is applied directly over thetape and pressed by the roller 2 during the outward movement of the carriage, and that the 'cuttingblade 54 is raised to sever the covering material at the proper movement in the timing of the 1nachine.

The construction of the tape cutting mechanism will now be described. Mounted on the frame is a bracket 136 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4;) adapted vto support an upright 137 upon which the tape cutting shears 14 are mounted. The upright 13.7 is provided at its base with flanges engaged by gibs 139, :mdis adjustably secured .to the bracket 136 by a set screw 22. The upright 137 can therefore beadjusted "transversely of the ma chine, thus varying the locationof the shears 14 relatively to the length of the tape to be cut. The shears l4 consist of two members pivoted together .in the usual manner and secured at their pivotpoint to .a slide 23 in the supporting upright 137.

The slide 23 isheld in a channel in the upright 137 by a plate .140, see Fig. 9. The depending ,part 141 of one member of the shears 14 .is pivotally connected :to one end of an arm 142. the other end of which is pivoted to the upright 137. The depend ing .part 143 of the other member or" the shears is likewise connected to an arm 144, which is also pivoted to the upright 137. The parts are so constructed and arranged that as the slide 23 is raised, the parts 141 and 143 of the shears are brought together, causing the cutting edges to sever the tape whichis located in their path of movement. Theslide '23 has a pin 146 projecting therefrom near its lower end which is engaged by the forked end of an arm 148 which is keyed to the shaft 147. The shaft 147 is journalled at one end in the upright 13.7

and is held against lateral movement with respect to said upright by a collar 1550 secured to the end of :the shaft and by .the lever 148 which is secured to the shaft on the opposite side of the upright. The shaft 147 extends transversely o-t the machine and is slidable through journals in an uprightbracket 151. the said bracket being supported at its base by the gibs 139 on the member 136 and suitably secured thereto. The bracket 151 is provided with a U-shaped cap portion secured as by bolts 153 to the bracket 151, the cap portion 152 also providing a journal for the shaft 147. One end of an arm 154 is mounted .on the shaft 147, in the spacebetween the supporting member 151 and the cap portion The arm 154 is keyed to the shaft 147 so as to rotate therewith but the shaft lit-7. due to its long keyway 155, is permittted to slide through the arm 154, the latter being held against lateral movement by the member 151 and its cap portion 152. It will thus be seen that when it is desired to change the position of the shears 14 with. respect to the tape 'T, it is only necessary to adjust the supporting member 137 transversely of the machine. the sl'idable connection bet-ween the shaft 147 and the arm 154, .making this adjustment possible. A link 156 connects the arm :154 to an arm 158 mounted 011 a rock shaft 157 journalled in the 'frame 25 of the machine. Another arm 160 fast on the rock shaft 157 is connected to a link 161 which is secured to a depending arm 1:62 keyed :to a rock shaft 163. Another a-rm 166 on the EL'OOlI shaft 163 is connected by RIGHDSJ101V1O be described to the knocking-ofi bar 13 for releasing theshuttle tape gripping finger 6 from the tape. A link 167 pivotal-1y connects the arm 166, see Figs. 1 and v2, to one arm of a bell crank 15 pivoted to the auxiliary frame (50. The other arm of the bell crank 15 has secured to its-end the transversely extending knocking-oft bar 13. The bar 13 is of sutiicient length to engage the .pin 12 on the gripping finger 6 irrespective oif the position at which the lifting cam 96 stops the shuttle in its movement across the machine.

The k-nocking-ofi bar 13 and the shears 14 are sinmltaneously actuated when .the rock shaft 163 is rotated by means new to bedescribed. A depending arm 164 keyed on the rock shaft 163 is pivoted to a link 165 which extends rearward'ly of the machine and is pivotally connected at 167 to an adjustable cam operated lever 168 (see Figs. 1 5 and 6'). The lever 168 is pivoted to the rock shaft 751 previously referred to and depends therefrom at a point forward of the cam shaft 43, which carries the actuating cam 169. The lever 168 is provided with an adjustable arm 170, having a cam roll 171 on its lower end which is engaged by the cam 169'. The arm 170 is slidable in ways 172 in the lower portion of the lever 168.- A vertical screw 17 3, pro vided with a beveled gear 17 on its upper end is supported from the'lever 168 and screws into an ear'175 on the arm 170. The beveled gear 174 is turned by a similar gear 176 on an adjustment-pin 177, which is supported in the arm 168. It will be understood that the roller 171 can thus be raised or lowered with respect to the cam 169, thereby varying the time at'which the lmocking-ofl'bar 13 and the shears 14 will be simultaneously actuated. in the timing of the several operations of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: a

1. In a box covering machine, the combination with covering applying devices, of means for first placing a piece of tape on the box, said means comprising a shuttle, means on said shuttle for gripping the end of a continuous piece of tape, means for moving said shuttle transversely of the machine, and means adjustable transversely of the machine forsevering a predetermined length of said tape. r a

2. In a machine for covering the tops and bottoms ofboxes, the combination with means for applying a sheet of covering material to a box top or bottom, of means for first placing a piece of tape on the top or bottom of the box, and means adjustable transversely of the machine -for severing a predetermined length of said tape, said severing means comprising shears mounted on an adjustable member suitably guided in the frame of said machine, means for securing said member in an adjusted position, actuating means for said shears and means connecting said shears to the actuating means.

3. In a machine for covering the tops and bottoms of boxes, the combination with means for applying a sheet of covering material to a box top or bottom, of means for first placing a piece of tape on the top or bottom of the box, and means for severing a predetermined length of said tape, said severing means comprising a support, a slide guided in said support, shears pivoted to said slide, said shears providing depending actuating arms, suit-able links pivoted at one end to said arms and having their other ends pivoted to said support, said parts being so constructed and arranged that when said slide is raised, the cutting edges of said shears will be brought together to sever the tape.

4. In a machine for covering the tops and bottoms of boxes, the combination with means for applying a sheet of covering material to a box top or bottom, of means for first placing a piece of tape on the top or bottom of the box, said means comprising a shuttle, means on said shuttle for gripping the end of a continuous piece of tape, means for moving said shuttle transversely of the machine, means for severing a predetermined length of said tape, means for releasing the tape from said gripping means, and adjustable means for simultaneously actuating said severing and releasing means, said adjustable actuatlng means comprising a cam, an arm pivoted to and depending from the frame of said machine, a member projecting from said arm and slidable therein,said member being adapted to engage said cam, means on said arm for raisingand lowering said cam engaging member with respect to said cam and suitable connections between said arm and said severing and releasing means.

5. In a box covering machine, the combination with covering applying devices, of a work support carriage, mechanism for reciprocating sai-d carriage with respect to said covering applying devices and. means for placing a piece of tape on the top or bottom of the box comprising a shuttle, means on said shuttle for gripping the end of a continuous piece of tape, means for moving said shuttle transversely of the machine, means for severing a pretermined length of said tape, means for releasing said gripping means, and adjustable means on said work support carriage for holding said tape in the desired position.

6. In a box covering machine, the combination with covering applying devices, of a work support carriage, mechanism for reciprocating said carriage with respect to said covering applying devices and means for placing a piece of tape on the top or bottom of the box comprising a shuttle, means on said shuttle for gripping the end of a continuous piece of tape, means for moving said shuttle transversely of the machine, means for severing a predetermined length of said tape, means for releasing said gripping means, and adjustable means on said work support carriage for holding said tape in the desired position, said last named means comprising two upwardly extending members in the form of hooks and provided with spring members adjacent their ends.

7. In a box covering machine, the com bination. with covering applying devices, of a work support carriage, mechanism for reciprocating said carriage with respect to said covering applying devices and means for placing a piece of tape on the top or hottomof the box comprising a shuttle, means on said shuttle for gripping the end of a continuous piece of tape, means for moving said shuttle transversely of the machine,

means for severing a predetermined length of said tape, means for releasing said gripping means, and adjustable means on said work support carriage for holding said tape in the desired position, said last named means comprising two upwardly extending members, and means on said work supporting carriage to permit vertical and longitudinal adjustment of said members with respect to said work supporting carriage.

8. In a box covering machine, means for applying covering material to a box top or bottom, a carriage, means for moving the carriage iLOY'v'ZlI't'l and from said covering applying means, a box support on said car riage, means for conveying tape across the path of movement of said box support and lingers movable in conjunction with said box support, said fingers having curved ends and spring members cooperating therewith for engagement with and serving to deflect the tape and press it against said box on the support, said fingers being adjustable verti- -ally and longitudinally with respect to said carriage and box support.

9. In a box covering machine, means for applying covering material to a box top or bottom, a carriage, means for moving the carriage toward and from said cover applying means, a box support on said carnage,

means for conveying tape across the path of movement of said box support, said tape conveying means comprising shuttle mechanism, sprocket wheels on opposite sides of the machine, an endless chain connecting said sprocket wheels, means on said chain for engaging said shuttle mechanism and means for driving said chain, said last named means comprising a shaft having a bevel gear at one end for engagement with the source of power, a bevel gear on the other end, a bevel gear suit-ably secured to one of said sprocket wheels and an intermediate idler shaft having abevel gear thereon connecting said two last named bevel gears.

10. In a box covering machine, means for applying covering material to a box top or bottom, a carriage, means for moving the carriage toward and from said cover applying means, a box support on said carriage, and means for conveying tape across the path of movement of said box support comprising sprocket wheels on opposite sides of said machine, a chain connecting said sprocket wheels, means for driving said chain, a pair of track bars extending transversely of the machine, a shuttle slidable on Said bars, tape gripping means carried by said shuttle, means on said chain for engagement with said shuttle, and raising and lowering cams for engagement with said shuttle, said cams being adjustable lengthwise of said track bars.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

GEORGE EDXVARD GOODING. 

